Musing – Why might someone oppose the Ten Commandments?

 Hebraic Musing – Why might someone oppose the Ten Commandments?

Why is there controversy about posting the Ten Commandments in Arkansas or anywhere?  If people kept the Ten Commandments, wouldn’t we have good neighbors and a much better society?  How could anyone object to that?  Are people afraid that if the students see the commandments, they might obey them?  Absurd!!!

What are the 10 Commandments?  What do they say?  What are some typical objections and/or responses?

1. “You shall have no other gods before me” implies the God of the Bible is the supreme authority.  Objection?  Some people don’t believe in a god with authority; others believe the ultimate authority is government; others have their own “Higher Power”; others have a religion that is not Judeo-Christian.

2. “You shall not worship idols” requires obedience to and worship of only the God of the Bible.  Objection?  Some think our primary allegiance is to ourselves, the government or some other thing they haven’t considered or even thought about.  Besides, who is God that He thinks He has a right to tell me what I can or cannot do?

3. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” requires that we speak respectfully of God.  Objection?  Some people do not respect the God of the Bible; they want to ignore, misrepresent or belittle him.

4. “Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.”  Objection? Some people do not believe in the seven days of creation; others think God does not have the right to tell them how to spend “their” time.  Who’s time is it!?!?

5. “Honor your father and mother.”  Objection?  Some people do not believe in priority of the family.  Some think our society does not need to be structured around a biological human family and/or their family is broken!

6. “You shall not murder.”  Objection?  Some feel if someone has become a threat to their beliefs or their way of life, they have the right to eliminate that someone and thus restore their “rights” or preferences.  If anyone is angry with his brother…  Is that the same as murder?  See Matthew 5:21-22

7. “You shall not commit adultery.”  Objection?  Some think that sexual fulfillment has no boundaries. Some think that marriage is not a priority relationship; but just one of many options.

8. “You shall not steal.”  Objection?  Some feel if a person has too much money, they or the government should take that money or wealth away and redistribute it.  They think the rich should be forced to share their wealth.

9. “You shall not lie.”  Objection?  Some feel deception is necessary to achieve greater good for them.  If an individual, an organization, the government or journalists feel it will produce a better life or a better society or protect their personal reputation, then deceit (lying) is acceptable and justified.  Whose life are they protecting?

10. “You shall not covet.”  Objection?  Some, seeing others more wealthy than themselves, make plans to remove the wealth from those people and to use it for the betterment of themselves or society.

After considering the purpose of each of the Ten Commandments in contrast to the thinking of many people in our society today, it becomes clear why many people object to the Ten Commandments.  The Commandments promote a standard that opposes their personal preferences and “their” plans for themselves and for society.

Interesting – The Ten Commandments are just as valid today as when God gave them to Moses over 3,000 years ago.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Mathew 5:18

If we want to preserve what’s best for our country, we should not only post the Ten Commandments but also be prepared to explain them; and be ready to tell everyone why they are important!

Points to Ponder

What is the morality promoted by the other religions or belief systems?  What is morality?

Might people accept Biblical Judeo-Christian morality when they see it working in us?

The ten Commandments tell us to “love your neighbor”; but do people really want to?

Are we to worship Me, Myself and I, or the Trinitarian Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           December 30, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”
Note – Inspired by Ken Freancis’ Ark.Dem.Gaz. editorial - “Reasons some might oppose the Decalogue”

Insight – When did Jesus come to dwell with us?

 

Hebraic Insight – When did Jesus come to dwell with us?

It is believed that the first American Thanksgiving was the Pilgrims’ way of celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles.  The Puritans were committed followers of Hebrew Scripture, using the Torah as a guide to living.  The Feast of Tabernacles was held after the fall harvest to remind the Israelites of the exodus from Egypt.  And it showed their thankfulness for their harvest and all that God had done for them.  The Puritans sought religious freedom in America and they identified with the Israelites, since they were wandering from the barren spiritual deserts of Europe to a kind of Promised Land, free of persecution.  Scripture encouraged them to give thanks for their deliverance by celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in their new homeland.

The Feast of Tabernacles is a seven-day autumn harvest festival (aka Feast of Ingathering, Booths, Sukkot or  “booths,” a reference to the temporary dwellings God commanded that we live in during this holiday as a reminder of how our ancestors lived in the wilderness.  The Feast was the final and most important of the feasts.  God said, “This is to be a lasting ordinance” and “I am the Lord your God”.  Tabernacles begins five days after Yom Kippur, a drastic change from one of the most solemn feasts in our year to one of the most joyous.  

Jesus came to dwell with us during the Feast of Tabernacles.  How do we know?

1. The shepherds were watching their flocks in the fields when Jesus was born.  The flocks around Bethlehem were normally brought into a “sheepfold” during the cold winter.  If it were winter, the shepherds would not be out in the fields. The flocks were in the fields because it was still “fall” season (the Feast of Tabernacles).

2.  Scholars calculate that John the Baptist was likely born on the Feast of Passover based on the schedule of priests serving in the Temple.  John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, was on Temple duty when the angel appeared prophesying John’s birth.  Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, was six months pregnant when the angel appeared to Mary to tell her that she was pregnant with Jesus (Luke 1:26-31).  So Jesus was born six months after John the Baptist which would be during Tishri, the month of the Feast of Tabernacles. 

3. There was “no room for them in the inn” when Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem.  The fall Feast of Tabernacles was one of three feasts requiring men of Israel to appear before the Lord (Deut. 16:16).  Luke 2:3 speaks of a tax by Caesar where “all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.”  Roman authorities conduct the census & taxation when inhabitants of Judea were already traveling for the Feast of Tabernacles; so the surrounding area would likely be very crowded (Bethlehem is only 3-4 miles from Jerusalem), thus “no room for them in the inn”.

4. As Constantine unified the Roman empire and converted it to Christianity, dates of Christian feast-days were changed to accommodate holidays already celebrated by the Roman pagans.  Their supreme god was the Sun, whose birthday was December 25.  So instead of celebrating Jesus’ birth when the Jewish believers knew it occurred on the Feast of Tabernacles, in 440 AD the Roman church decreed His birth to be on a festival that was already celebrated by the Roman pagans (thus December 25) – a subtle anti-Semitic change.

What did Jesus say on His real birthday?  A custom on the Feast of Tabernacles during the time of Jesus was a ceremony of pouring water on the last day of the feast.  A priest would fill a water pitcher from the Pool of Siloam and carry it back to the Temple, followed by a procession of the people dancing, singing and chanting Psalms.  The procession circled the altar and the priest poured the water at the Temple altar while the people rejoiced.  It was at this time that Jesus made the declaration found in John 7:37-39a  “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’”  Jesus thus declared to the people that He is the fulfillment of the pattern of the Temple ceremony and that the Feast was a foreshadowing of things to come.

In Summary – How appropriate that Jesus (Immanuel, God with us) should dwell with us during the Feast of Tabernacles which means “dwelling place”.  

Points to ponder

When will He return to dwell with us again?

They were obviously Wise Men; they came seeking the “King of the Jews”.
Shouldn’t we all be Wise Men and be seeking Him today?

Hag Samach (lit. Feast Merry)    or  Joyous Festival     or   Happy Thanksgiving   or   Merry Christmas

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd            December 23, 2025 (also November 24, 2009 & December 19, 2017)

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – How Could the Wise Men Have Possibly Known?

 

Hebraic Musing – How Could the Wise Men Have Possibly Known?

The typical manger scene at Christmas includes some extra-Biblical portrayals of “Three Kings” and a “Star”.  This is portrayed even though Matthew 2:1 begins with “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem…”  Actually, some number of Magi, or wise men (not kings), visited Jesus in His home about two years later; and they had journeyed from the East and brought significant gifts.  But who were they and how could they have possibly known about Jesus and His birth?

It makes sense that these wise men were astrologers from Babylon and they were led by something that has been translated as a “Star”.  The original the Greek could just as easily been translated “Light” or “Brilliance” which makes more sense since everyone, especially astrologers, know that stars do not move East, West, North, South and rest over a home!  Many rightfully contend that it could have been the Shechinah glory of God that they followed. 

Why would “Wise Men” from Babylon have been searching for such a sign?  Matthew recalls the Magi referring to it as “His star” in Matthew 2:1-2 …during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."   NIV   These Magi had not come to welcome previous kings of the Jews, so why this one?!?!   This was obviously not an ordinary star or event!  How would Magi, wise men, from Babylon know about the coming of a Messianic King?  Here are two clues in the OT.

First, Daniel’s book was written mostly in Aramaic while he was in Babylon; and Daniel had many associations with the wise men, astrologers in Babylon.  They would have studied and interpreted Daniel’s famous “Seventy ‘sevens’” prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27.  But, why would the astrologers have paid attention to prophecies of a Jew in exile?  Answer – He saved their lives!  And they would have recognized Daniel’s “God of Heaven”.   Daniel 2:12-17 tells of the King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders to execute all the wise men of Babylon; and of Daniel’s answer from the “God of Heaven” which spared their lives.  Nebuchadnezzar had made Daniel head of all the astrologers (whose lives he just saved!).  Since they were “wise men”, can we assume they also recognized the “God of Heaven” whom Daniel heard from?  Hence, a line of Babylonian astrologers from generation to generation recognized and worshipped the true God and were relying on Daniel’s prophecy looking forward to the coming “King of the Jews” whom they asked for in Matt.2:2. 

Second, since Daniel said nothing about a “Star” announcing the Messiah’s birth, where did the knowledge of a star come from?   Remember that back in Numbers 22, the king of Moab, Balak, desperately needed someone to curse the Israelite nation, so he called on “Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land.” Numbers 22:5   Balaam’s home is a suburb of Babylon, and he had a reputation as a noted wise man or seer!  After failed attempts to curse Israel, Balaam was forced by God to prophesy of the coming of the Jewish Messiah, and he related that to a “Star/Scepter out of Jacob”.  God had Balaam utter this oracle -- "…, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:  I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.  He will crush … his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.  A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city."  Numbers 24:15-19 NIV

Two of Babylon’s renowned wise men, both Balaam and Daniel had provided the Wise Men of Babylon with belief in the “God of Heaven” and with prophecies and Messianic understanding and timing.  It’s not surprising they responded when they saw a brilliant light appear in the sky at just the right time. 

 Point to ponder

They were obviously Wise Men; they came seeking the “King of the Jews”.

Shouldn’t we all be Wise Men and seek Him today?

Job 34:2 "Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.” Merry Christmas

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                        December 16, 2025 (December 19, 2017 originally)

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – How important are the differences between Greek and Hebrew thinking?

 

Hebraic Musing – How important are the differences between Greek and Hebrew thinking?

It was the Greeks who ignored the Old Testament after the New Testament came into being.  They were quick to accept the new in place of the old.  No wonder the Old Testament is often ignored by our Sunday Church.

The ancient Greeks celebrated man’s supremacy over nature.  Columns that were designed to resemble human muscles support massive stone roofs.  The columns bulge as if they were muscles clenching under a great weight.  They express man’s triumph over gravity, and the Greek concept of beauty.

The ancient Hebrews celebrated YHVH In contrast.  They were more transcendent in their outlook on life.  They looked to Elohim for answers.  Today we tend to see Hebrew only as a language not a culture, but the Bible is a culturally Hebrew book, even though we are reading it in English.

We, 21st century Americans are devoted to science and technology, walking in the footsteps of the Ancient Greeks who upheld virtues of logic, philosophy, science, beauty, athletics and taming nature.  Greeks gave us sports.  Democracy with voting began in Greece city states, each of which maintain its own laws, goals and customs.  Greek ideas, values and habits have influenced North America with reasoning, governing, treating the sick, and educating the young, to pursue excellence modeled after the Ancient Greek civilization.  The scattered Greek cities each became their own state, maintaining its own goals, laws and customs.  Democracy was first established in Ancient Greece, with each citizen voting by placing a white stone for “yes” and a black stone for “no” in a large clay jar.  Remember the “White Stone” in Revelation 2:17 NKJV – “And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written…” 

Hebrews and Greeks have two completely opposite worldviews regarding religion, culture, government, reasoning and logic.  They are polar opposites.  Greeks were highly visual, expressing perfection through beautiful objects.  For the Greeks, beauty was seen as holiness, whereas emotions represent weakness.  Greek thinkers require logic.  When confronted with contradicting ideas, one must be wrong while the other must be right.  Greek reasoning is linear, following a straight line.  Each new idea on the line redefines or eliminates the previous ideas on the line.  Old ideas are redefined or eliminated by any new idea.  A Greek thinker reading Paul, assumes his reasoning is linear.  They assume Paul replaces the Torah with grace, therefore abolishing the Law of Moses with the New Covenant.  We see this in the Sunday church which began under Greek influence by ignoring the teaching of the Old Testament instructions for Sabbath.  Paul was exposed to Greek as well as Hebrew, so he debated but upheld both Torah Law and Grace.

Hebrew thinking thrives on what appears to be inconsistencies and contradictions in Scripture because they point to the unfathomable wonders of an awe-inspiring Elohim.  In contrast, each step in a Greek argument is tightly linked to the next step, creating rational and orderly arguments.  Hebrew thinking is full of inconsistencies, because Hebrews are comfortable with two opposites both being true.  

Greek thinking has influenced believers who live in the Western world.  Many of us believers act like Greek thinkers and argue theology.  Our Greek thinking drives us to separate from those who interpret scripture differently.  Greek thinking compels Bible believers to be right.  Greek thinkers would rather be right, than to be part of a unified body of believers; but Jesus taught.  “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:” John 17:21-22 NKJV.  Why do we have so many denominations?

Alexandria, Egypt, was the world center for Greek learning in that day.  The Greeks believed Greek philosophy and religion could transform the world.  Many Hebrews learned Greek mythology in the Royal Library of Alexandria, but Greek mythology is symbolic, allegorical, and diametrically opposed to Hebrew thinking

Ancient Greece was wealthy and advanced enough for people to sit and discuss ideas for a living.  Their job was to explore knowledge.  The ancient Greeks pursued a lifestyle of abstract thinking and their own mythological gods.  What did Paul encounter in Athens?  “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.  Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.  Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?  For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”  For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.” Acts 17:16-21 NKJV  The Greeks loved the idea of new thoughts and ideas.

The wise men of Greece taught followers to “know self,” and that is the foundation of Western philosophy today, including ours!  Plato understood philosophy to be the best preparation for a good death.  For Greeks, man’s thinking defined who he was; the Hebrews see man as his actions demonstrate purpose.  For Plato, man’s soul was divine, the body was the prison of the soul.  He urged the Greeks to see themselves as imprisoned in the body.  But Paul taught “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV   And that is why when Paul saw the Olympian gods he declared “for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:  God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.” Acts 17: 23-24  What a contrast in objects of worship!!!  But, what do we worship today?!?!

Points to Ponder

Have we become so accustomed to Greek thinking, we consider it the norm?
Do we recognize the huge conflicts between Hebrew and Greek thinking?

Why have Christians changed the “Sabbath” to Sunday?

Why does Acts 15:28-29 have to tell us to abstain from (1) what has been sacrificed to idols?
(2) from blood? (3) from what has been strangled? (4) from sexual immorality?

Read the whole Bible as a Hebrew book.  The NT did not replace the OT. 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          December9, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

P.S.  These highlights are from “GREEKS, getting rid of the OLD & moving on to the NEW” by Johanna Hocker (behockers@bevcomm.net)   Her 4 page document with the above points and a lot more is available on request from either Johanna, or from me.

Musing – What happens when the Father’s role is missing?

 Hebraic Musing – What happens when the Father’s role is missing?

Teachers (in Public and Christian schools) all seem to agree with this statement: “Less than 10% of school children go home to both of their original parents.”  And these teachers are bemoaning the discipline issues they contend with daily.  How did our society here in the “Bible Belt” wind up so far out of touch with God’s plan for our families?  Thankfully, this does not apply to every family; some families are wonderfully functional and have overcome past re-structuring; and then, some traditional families have become dis-functional.  But the 10% view is still what teachers see (in both Public and Christian schools!).

My personal perspective begins with growing up in WWII days when divorce was verboten; then after the war divorces were more common.  I can remember my uncle came home after the war and divorced his sweet and respected wife, our loving aunt!  And our family was surprised he did not move to California where “divorced” people normally escaped to back then.  Over the generations, California had developed the reputation for divorces and broken homes; but in more current generations, the rate of divorces and broken homes in the Midwest “Bible Belt” is sadly now more comparable to California’s rate years ago!!!

The traditional role of God’s two parent system is to raise children with a combination of a nurturing mother AND a disciplining father.  I grew up as a boy and I’ll willingly testify that as a boy, I needed discipline!  God knew that.  “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” Hebrews 12:7 NIV  So the Bible agrees, sons need discipline (and respect) provided by a father.  And it goes on in vs.8-9:  “If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.”  And then in v.11 we find the purpose for discipline.  “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 NIV

What does the Bible say about the role of and need for discipline in Hebrews 12:4-11?
 - Biblical discipline deters destruction of angry kids done in love. (v. 4)
 - Biblical discipline “do not lose heart when he rebukes you,” (v. 5)
 - The motive in biblical discipline is to express love. (vv. 6-8)
 - Biblical discipline teaches obedience (v. 9)
 - The result of discipline: short-term pain and long-term gain (vv. 10–11)

If only 10% of children have their original birth father available for discipline as a son, how do we apply Proverbs 15:18 to the raising of today’s generation of boys?  “Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.” Proverbs 19:18

To be fair, I know of a few instances where a step-father is doing an admirable job, but it is rare and fraught with challenges.

Points to Ponder

Are today’s teen boys seeking “discipline” by joining “Gangs?

Are non-biblical ideologies being promoted in school by non-Christian teachers?

What’s happening to today’s crime rate?  Why?

How can we minister to boys who do not have a parenting father?
(Are “Youth Pastors” a sufficient substitute?)

Do we recognize and appreciate the collateral damage from divorces?

“A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.” Proverbs 15:5

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         December 2, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”